Arrival of sailing ship is historic occasion

ONE of the most famous sailing boats in the world is arriving in Plymouth this month - and people are being urged to turn out to welcome her in celebrating one of the most important moments in the history of the sport.

- BY CLARE MCCOMB

At about 1pm on Friday, September 12, the Jolie Brise is due to arrive, marking 100 years since her 1925 victory in the very first Fastnet Race.

The mighty Royal Ocean Racing Club, whose global influence is unparalleled across the world these days, came into being at the post-race dinner, at Plymouth's own Royal Western Yacht Clubhouse.

This was no humble beginning. Those present knew they were participating in something exciting.

They had just completed what many declared to be the best experience of their lives and their new club was being founded to create a whole new sport.

It is said cheering from the event could be heard far and wide in the streets round about. Even then, Jolie Brise was star of the show.

Today she is known for her Tall Ships accolades: overall winner in various categories in 1980, 2000, 2011, 2015 and 2016.

She has ventured above the Arctic Circle, crossed the Atlantic many times, losing her topmast mid-ocean on one occasion; she has travelled east to St Petersburg in Russia and south to the western Sahara.

In 1932 she saved lives in a daring rescue in American waters for which she was awarded sailing's Oscar, the Blue Water medal. This was her second, for she won Britain's first in 1926, following yet another transatlantic adventure. Of course she is best known for being the only boat to win the Fastnet three times. She is iconic and unmistakeable.

So why Plymouth for the finish of the 'Ocean Race,' as the inaugural Fastnet was called at the time?

It had been conceived as a one-off, in 1925 but those driving the project were determined there would be a new club to provide many races in future years.